Why no Apple? (my third laptop is gasp – an HP)

Why I have an HP and not a Mac

1. Win7  promo hype – I bought it

2. Cost – customized 14″ HP is $500 less than equivalent 13″ MacBook

3. Switch to Apple = learning curve for OS and software

4. Too lazy to adjust to new OS – leopard, panther, bobcat, ocelot?? Safari, anyone?

5. I’ll be looking again in 2-3 years, it’s not a permanent choice

6. Comfort: Vista PC at home, I’ve been with MS for 25 years

7. Did comparison shopping for several months, inc’l reviews

8. HP and Toshiba finally making ‘sexy’ laptops w good feature set

9. Needed an optical drive (wasn’t 100% sure, now I am) (adds 1/2″ thickness)

10. Mostly no’s 3 and 4 above.

HP model Dv4t (custom): my review after one full week
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Specs: 14″ screen, Intel Core2 -2.2GHz, 4 GB RAM, dedicated NVidia graphics card, 320MB HD, 64 bit Win7, wireless-N, hi-cap battery, white, $950± inc’l tax.

The Good

So far, HP has been great, 10-15 seconds start from hibernate, less than 60 secs to restart. PhotoShop opens almost as fast as my 64 bit, Intel i7, 3GHz home system w 6 GB RAM. Battery life, much better than my previous $2k Sony. Not as much junk software as in the past from HP. So far doesn’t get as hot as Sony.

Yes, it’s .4″ thicker than the MacBook, but HP disguised it with a thin edge and it’s white like a Mac. HP has a hard drive shut down mode for detecting drop situations – which has been helpful. I have not yet  taken it for the ultimate test: in the topcase of my single cylinder motorcycle for a few hundred miles. (My Sony did fine, but the case screws vibrated out – finally I used Loctite on them). The HP exterior case finish and material so far has held up well – the top is super shiny and therefore slick, but the bottom is matte, so no problem holding on to it. Lot’s of connections, ports, etc.

I like the touch slider volume control.

The NOT so Good

Disappointing screen brightness and screen view angle – my Sony laptop was so bright you could see it in full sun. Did not compare HP brightness w the Mac like I should’ve. (Maybe brightness is why the Sony sucks batteries and costs so much – but it was worth it to me) The HP white keyboard looks great but key labels are gray (not black) and difficult to read in dim light.

BTW – Win7 is Vista with a few improvements to the interface. So, Win7 has not ‘wowed’ me at all. Been using Vista for three years, so maybe that’s why.

Summary: I’m super happy with a small, fast, sharp looking laptop; for under $1,000 it can’t be beat. Wish the screen were brighter.

Review after three months

Still happy. Screen brightness is biggest negative. I’ve upped it on battery to full, still get over an hour surfing, so I’ve learned to live with it. Screen size is perfect for a portable. Keyboard OK; touchpad better than Sony.

Still no motorcycle vibration test. Too cold.